Ernest Jones IV was a solid linebacker for the first four seasons of his career, and probably should have been a Pro Bowler in 2023 if not for the stacked linebacker class that year, but a fire was lit under him in 2025 that led to his first real accolade in the NFL. Jones was a second-team All-Pro, ironically behind first teamer Jordyn Brooks, the linebacker he eventually replaced on the Seahawks in 2024.
Although the 2026 season is in its adolescent stage and figuring out what it wants to be when it grows up, Jones is on track to have a better year than both Brooks and fellow first teamer Jack Campbell.
Jones is averaging 10 tackles per game (5 solo)
He has 3 sacks (one in each of the last three games)
He had his sixth interception since 2025 (seven if you include playoffs)
Mike Macdonald is using Jones as a pass rusher more often than he did in 2025, as he’s on pace to blitz 42 times, and Jones is allowing a career-low 4.4 yards per target and 59.4% completion percentage, so far.
As I noted recently, Jones has the second-most hustle tackles this year among all players (Devon Witherspoon is first) and that’s when a player has to cover at least 20 yards of ground to make a tackle. Jones has two more than any other linebacker. Although PFF has given Jones a low grade for his run defense (could not tell you why) he does rate highly in coverage and pass rush. So do you take the good with the bad or do you just take the good?
The way I’d put it is that I feel no need to question Jones’s run defense. The Seahawks had a bad run defense before he arrived — even with Macdonald — and they have an elite run defense since then.
His coverage stats are great. His pass rush numbers are great. He had five interceptions in the regular season last year, a rare number for linebackers, and then another in the playoffs.
Meanwhile, Brooks isn’t putting up “numbers” this season, opening the door for Jones to move up. Brooks has no sacks, no tackles for a loss, no turnovers forced, one batted pass, one pressure, and unimpressive coverage numbers.
Campbell has fallen even harder. The Lions former first-round pick is ranked 53rd at the position by PFF and has no sacks, no turnovers forced, no batted passes, three pressures, and he’s allowed three touchdowns.
At this point, it’s not if Jones has surpassed last year’s first teamers — he has — but if he can hold off some of the league’s up and comers. Names like Carson Schwesinger, Jacob Rodriguez, Ventrell Miller, and Trenton Simpson are a few that will gain steam over time. But they haven’t played as well as Jones, in my opinion.
The return of Fred Warner probably means that one of those first team slots could get locked up by him shortly. Given that writers have already acknowledged Jones as a deserving candidate last year, he’s on an inside track for the other one. A few more seasons like that and we’re not just talking about Ernest Jones as one of the best linebackers today.
We’ll be talking about him as one of the best linebackers of this century.
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West Seattle Tim: If we lose to the Chiefs and sit at 3-4, what do you think JS and MM would do to the roster? Do they start burning up the phones or do they stand pat and wait for guys to get healthy?
I actually don’t think the outcome changes the plan. The worst case scenario for being 3-4 would still only leave Seattle out of the wild card by 1.5 games:
The Lions will be 4-2 and in the seven-seed if they win, but they’ll be 3-3 and still in the wild card if they lose, unless the Seahawks win.
So I don’t think a loss necessarily does anything. They could make a trade for a player whether they win or lose. They wouldn’t sell off players if they lose. The NFC is just a complete mess and losing to an undefeated Chiefs team should not really change how Seattle sees themselves.
Scottula: God what is there not to ask? Is Charbs playing? Is Fleury giving Darnold an extra protector? Any new important injuries on defense? How’s JSNs ankle? Is Kupp going to wear neon to be more visible? Any progress on trades with the Colts?
Let’s see:
Zach Charbonnet’s status shouldn’t be assumed. He practiced in full, but Macdonald seems to still be preaching patience this week.
I’m not aware of Seattle being in need of an extra pass protector, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. The Seahawks do run a lot of heavy personnel already. The blockers need to block better.
Uchenna Nwosu made a surprise appearance on the injury report. It does not look like Drake Thomas will return, he hasn’t practiced.
JSN wasn’t on the injury report on Thursday.
If Seattle can get their pressure allowed under control, I think Sam Darnold could find Cooper Kupp more often.
If the Colts lose to the Vikings this weekend, that will probably expedite the decision to have a fire sale.
Bob: Just curious, how many more interceptions can Sam throw before Cranial Rectitus (a chronic foot shooting condition) is diagnosed and Drew gets another shot? What is the magic number that puts Sam on the bench splinter squad?
Unfortunately, the Chiefs have intercepted every quarterback who they have faced this season and only allowed four touchdowns against five picks. I would almost want Drew Lock to start this weekend just so there was some way to settle that Seattle’s defensive matchups do matter, like facing the Cardinals instead of the Broncos or 49ers. Or if Lock plays much better than Darnold when he does face a real defense, then great, go in that direction.
However, Darnold has to survive this one and then the Bears next week should be slightly softer. Whether he plays well won’t come down to an interception total necessarily, but the circumstances of the picks and if he can lead the Seahawks on several touchdown drives. I’ll trade an interception for three touchdown drives of longer than 60 yards.
Ray: K9 might well understand that MM had his health in mind but wanted to take the injury risk anyway. I wonder how much of his KC contract is fully guaranteed?
To be fair, I think the only thing he had in mind was having at least one healthy running back for the playoffs. Which did pay off.
Walker was guaranteed $28.7 million at signing. He got $13 million the day he signed and he has $15.7 million in guaranteed salary over 2026-2027.
If he continued to play anywhere close to the level he’s been at so far, and wasn’t seriously injured first, the Chiefs would then probably extend him in the 2028 offseason.
Jake: I guess the big question right now I have is does anyone have 4 Hawks/Raiders tickets they want to sell. LOL I live out of state and go to 1 away game a year and this year its Vegas. DC, last season, previous include KC, Tenn, NY Giants, 2 superbowls (not last year) London (also Raiders and I tagged a big graffiti #12 in the london railway) SF, Car, Phi, GB, Dallas, Stl, Arz and LA.
Someone please help Jake out!
A healthy Zach Charbonnet is the best thing that can happen to Sam Darnold and any receiver not named JSN. Defenses simply don’t fear Wilson and Holani and are free to commit to defending the passing game. This isn’t to excuse the interceptions, just to say that the lack of starting talent at RB is the greatest structural problem facing the offense.